SMH: Parramatta in talks with Morrison

[Parraren]

Trade overdrive
July 1, 2004

The NRL's anti-tampering deadline expired at midnight, throwing dozens of players on the open market. Brad Walter looks at who's talking to whom.

BRISBANE

Gorden Tallis will wait until the end of the season to decide whether to play next year, but Darren Lockyer will take over the captaincy long-term. Tallis was given the all-clear by a neck specialist to resume playing this weekend, but doctors told him: "If I keep getting hit, the symptoms are going to keep on getting worse and worse and worse . . . next year will be something I have to think about at the end of the year." Lockyer will re-sign next week for four or five years. Karmichael Hunt has agreed to terms for a further two years, and talks have opened with Brett Seymour.

BULLDOGS

Five-eighth Johnathan Thurston yesterday rejected the Bulldogs' latest offer. Skipper Steve Price has had interest from four clubs, and Hazem El Masri is awaiting a formal offer from the French Rugby Federation.

CANBERRA

Kiwis skipper Ruben Wiki is set to spark a tug of war between the Warriors and Wigan. He has had a lucrative offer from Wigan but the Warriors had to wait until today to bid because of anti-tampering rules. Centre Joel Monaghan is expected to attract interest from the Roosters, Manly, Wests Tigers, Parramatta and the Bulldogs. The Raiders have offered both $750,000 over three years. Winger Michael Robertson is considering an offer from the club, and halfback Todd Carney has re-signed until 2008.

CRONULLA

Five-eighth/lock Greg Bird has interested Newcastle and Canberra. Centre Paul Franze may also return to the Knights. Chris Beattie has been linked to the Warriors.

MANLY

John Hopoate's future will be discussed today. Sea Eagles management also plans to meet the agents of Scott Donald, Luke Williamson, Albert Torrens, Nathan Tutt and Nathan Hollingsworth.

MELBOURNE

Back-rower David Kidwell will meet the club today before deciding whether to accept an offer from Canberra. Skipper Stephen Kearney, prop Rodney Howe and second-rower Danny Williams are all expected to head to Britain.

NEWCASTLE

Timana Tahu is expected to receive a formal offer from Manly tomorrow. Michael Ennis yesterday met the Dragons and will hold talks with Brisbane after rejecting offers from Souths and Wests Tigers. Dane Tilse and Daniel Tolar have re-signed and Clint Newton and Matt Kennedy are close to doing so.

NORTH QUEENSLAND

Lock Glenn Morrison yesterday met Parramatta and Wests Tigers and will talk to other clubs this week. Veteran Kevin Campion is considering going to England.

PARRAMATTA

The Eels have until July 31 to exercise an option on the services of English halfback Chris Thorman, and have an option on utility Lee Hopkins. Craig Stapleton and Fui Fui Moi Moi are yet to be re-signed.

PENRITH

Trent Waterhouse has agreed to an extension until the end of 2007. Centre Paul Whatuira is considering two offers and Amos Roberts and Frank Puletua are also off contract.

SOUTH SYDNEY

Justin Smith is interesting the Dragons, Warriors and Cowboys. Paul Stringer is talking to several clubs including Cronulla. Rabbitohs juniors John Sutton, Manase Manuokafoa, Roy Bell and Chris Enahoro have re-signed, and talks are continuing with Joe Williams.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

Jason Ryles has accepted a reduced contract to stay for a further three seasons, while Aaron Gorrell, Michael Henderson, Clint Greenshields, Bryan Norrie and Wes Naiqama have re-signed for another year. Ben Hornby and Reece Simmonds are expected to sign in the next few days.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Ryan Cross has turned down approaches from the Waratahs and Queensland Reds to commit to two more years. Justin Hodges is expected to move to Brisbane and Gavin Lester is yet to receive a formal offer.

WARRIORS

Lance Hohaia has agreed to a new three-year deal. The Warriors are reportedly interested in Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden.

WESTS TIGERS

Centre/back-rower Bronson Harrison yesterday re-signed for a further two years, while second-rower Chris Heighington held further talks with Tigers management. Veterans Darren Senter, Robbie Mears and Michael Buettner are unsigned.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Interesting. Looks like Hopkins has a option aswell, Grothe not mentioned anywhere so hopefully he has been locked up for at least 1 more year.

 

[Jake the snake]

Dont get me wrong I reckon that Morrison is a fine player but doesn't everyone think we have already got tooooo many 2nd rowers/Locks:

Hindmarsh
Cayless
Mateo
Wagon
Afsamasga

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

we haven't resigned Stapleton? Gotta be the single stupidest thing I have read since the Ian Hindmarsh debacle.

 

[fish eel]

Dont get me wrong I reckon that Morrison is a fine player but doesn't everyone think we have already got tooooo many 2nd rowers/Locks:

Hindmarsh
Cayless
Mateo
Wagon
Afsamasga

I think Morrison would be a terrific signing.

He is just as home whether playing lock or second row.

The real bonus in signing him, is that it will take the heat of Nathan Hindmarsh, especially in defence...meaninig Hindy may actually become even more of a threat ball in hand.

 

[grumble]

Not to mention Muckett, Hopkins and Widders. Morrison is quality, but I think that with time Muckett will be a fantastic player for the Eels. Can't see the need for more backrowers when the halves and three quarters are where we seem to be a bit light on. When we get all our injured players back and throw Riddell into the mix it looks a pretty good pack to me!

 

[1eyedeel]

I wholeheartedly agree! Think Morrison is great but Parra's forward pack lacks hard running impact players not another worker. Might make sense if the Eels see next year as Daniel Wagon's last year at lock (and I doubt that) but even then I would have thought that would have been enough time to blood Mateo. Frank Pritchard would have given our pack another dimension, I don't think Glenn Morrison does.

 

[Eels Dude]

I wholeheartedly agree! Think Morrison is great but Parra's forward pack lacks hard running impact players not another worker. Might make sense if the Eels see next year as Daniel Wagon's last year at lock (and I doubt that) but even then I would have thought that would have been enough time to blood Mateo. Frank Pritchard would have given our pack another dimension, I don't think Glenn Morrison does.

Well Glenn Morrison can take over Hindy's role as the workhorse in the side. This leaves Hindmarsh to be the damaging runner who breaks the line who gets a rest after a while. Hindmarsh does too much work these days to break the line in attack. Morrison can lighten his burden.

 

[The Colonel]

IMO Hindy is suffering from the same problem Brad Clyde did. Clyde was the mainstay of the Raiders pack - hit ups, tackles, mopping up the rucks. When you saw him play Origin - as we have seen with Hindy - he was able to work of the fringes as opposed to busting his arse all day - and when he didn't have to do that he was twice the player and reverted back to the gamebreaker he was. Morrison or Paul Gallen would take Hindy out of the centre of the park and put him where he is at his most dangerous.

 

[CrazyEel]

I wholeheartedly agree! Think Morrison is great but Parra's forward pack lacks hard running impact players not another worker. Might make sense if the Eels see next year as Daniel Wagon's last year at lock (and I doubt that) but even then I would have thought that would have been enough time to blood Mateo. Frank Pritchard would have given our pack another dimension, I don't think Glenn Morrison does.

Well Glenn Morrison can take over Hindy's role as the workhorse in the side. This leaves Hindmarsh to be the damaging runner who breaks the line who gets a rest after a while. Hindmarsh does too much work these days to break the line in attack. Morrison can lighten his burden.

I wasn't real keen on Morison, mainly due to his injury and age and what filthy_spammers pointed out, but you make a very good point and have changed my mind.

 

[The Colonel]

I wholeheartedly agree! Think Morrison is great but Parra's forward pack lacks hard running impact players not another worker. Might make sense if the Eels see next year as Daniel Wagon's last year at lock (and I doubt that) but even then I would have thought that would have been enough time to blood Mateo. Frank Pritchard would have given our pack another dimension, I don't think Glenn Morrison does.

Well Glenn Morrison can take over Hindy's role as the workhorse in the side. This leaves Hindmarsh to be the damaging runner who breaks the line who gets a rest after a while. Hindmarsh does too much work these days to break the line in attack. Morrison can lighten his burden.

Great minds, great minds.....

 

[CrazyEel]

Yes, and as you both changed mine spose that excludes me #-o

 

[Parraren]

Colonel is on the money. Morrison is the perfect partner for Hindmarsh in the 2nd row. Much like Ian was before he left. Morrison isn't just a "workhorse" either as some of you are suggesting. Morrison is one of the hardest running 2nd rowers in the game, hardly just a "workhorse". He has more than a few strings to his bow - can find the line, hit holes and has a good offload.

 

[bazza]

Morrison is a good player - but not what Parramatta needs

He has always played with loser sides and is used to finishing mid to bottom of the table

 

[miniHINDY]

I say put a big deal in front of tahu and monaghan we need a center. Morrison would be a great buy also we would have a great pack!!!

8.Cayless
9.Ridell
10.Cannings
11.Hindmarsh
12.Morrison
13.Wagon

14.Widders
15. Vella
16. Tsoulos

 

[Parraren]

8.Cayless
9.Ridell
10.Cannings
11.Hindmarsh
12.Morrison
13.Wagon

That is a premiership winning pack my friend :twisted:

I think some people might be forgetting that Monaghan & Tahu are really wingers and NOT centres. If I had a choice between the 2 I'd go for Monaghan because he's looked better playing in the centres than Tahu and he's also alot less inhury prone. Tahu always seems to break down with ankle or hamstring problems.

 

[miniHINDY]

I agree Parraren
Just show Morrison that pack and I bet he'll be championg at the bit to get over here. Well heres hoping anyway [-o<

 

[strider]

11. Hindmarsh
12. Cayless
13. Morrison

7. pffft
6. Wagon

:shock: :shock: :shock: #-o #-o #-o

 

[Parraren]

Strider who's this pffft bloke? Any good? ;-)

 

[strider]

he's an illusive player that can change the fortunes of a club, but is very hard to nail down to a contract.